Shock-arrester for the rigging of vessels



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

HE LER. SHOCK ARRBSTEB FOR THE RIGGING OF VESSELS.

.No. 384,008. Patented June 5,1888.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets- -sheet 2.

F. WHEELER. I SHOCK ARRESTBR FOR THE RIGGING 0F V'ESSELS. No. 384,008;

8 Patented June 5, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

FRANK WHEELER, OF'MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

SHOCK-ARREST ER FOR THE RIGGING OF VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 384,008, dated June 5, 1888.

Application filed February 25, 1888. Serial No. 265,242. (No model.) I I To aZZ "whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK WHE LER, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock-Arresters for the Rigging of Vessels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,'clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved shockarrester for the rigging of vessels, and more particularly to a device that is adapted to neutralize an abrupt shock or strain on the main-sheet of asailing-vessel, which is caused by shifting the mainsail from side to side of the vessel in tacking or changing the position of the sail to suit the intended course of theboat.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective shock-arresting device, which may be applied to any vessel that is provided with a swinging boom to shift its mainsail, and which from its form of construction will be adapted to slide freely on the transverse rail or sheet traveler, that is fixed at the stern of the vessel to retain the lower block of the sheet on either rack and permit the sail to be shifted as may be desired.

. With this object in view, my invention consists in certain features of construct-ion and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents the rear end of a yacht in elevation,with the mainsail, boom, sheet, lower block, and shock-arrester shown, the latter being connected to the guide-iron or traveler fixed at view of one of the improved shock-arresters detached and enlarged. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the device taken through the center of the shackle-bolt and open link. Fig. 4 represents a modified form of the device that is adapted to attach the shock-arresting device to the eye of a sheet-block more securely than with the hook-andeye connection shown in the other figures.

A represents an open link, made by bending a metal bar near its center of length to afford two parallel limbs, a a. The material Fig. 2 is a perspective of the link A is preferably made half-round in cross-section, thus affording a rounded exterior-surface and two fiatinnersides, as shown in Fig. 2. The free extremities of the link A are enlarged to produce rounded bosses b b, which are flattened on their exterior, thus providing parallel sides to each. The rounded bosses b are axially perforated, the holes in them being of proper diameter to receive a upon their outer faces. The length of the bolt '0 is such that the threaded end will not project beyond the fastening-nut 0' when the bolt and nut are in position, so as to afford a neat finish to the parts.

A closed link, B, is formed from a piece of wrought-iron or steel, or may be made of suitable cast metal. This link has two parallel sides, (1 d, and is rounded at one end. The material of which the link is made has a rounded exterior and flattened interior surface, sothat the inner faces of the sides (I dare parallel to each other. From the points 6 e the sides (1 d of the link B are inclined toward each other and unite at f, where they are formed into a ring, C.

The open link A and closed link B each are furnished with a metal seat-block, D. These blocks being of similar construction, a descrip- .tion of one will suffice for both of them. Each block consists of a circular piece of metal that is fiat on one side and has the edges cut away oppositely to reduce weight, and across the center of the remaining portion a channel is cutto receive the bent portions 9 g of the links A B. (See Fig. 3.)

In forming the grooves or channels just mentioned two flanges, h h, are produced on each seat-block, and when the half'round bodies of .the links A B are inserted between pairs of these mating flanges the projecting corners 13 i are hammered down to cause them to bear upon the rounded surface of the link-bodies and thus secure the seat-blocks and links to gether.

A cylindrical gum cushion or spring, E, is placed between the seat-blocks D I), when the links AB are interlocked,as shown, and from the construction of these links and seatblocks the cushion E will be held as in a four-barred case, the elasticity it possesses affording a yieldshackle-bolt, c, the head and nutof which bear ICO ing action that is limited by the density of the gum material and its consequent resistance to undue compression.

Upon the shackle-bolt c an open shacklering, F, is secured, said bolt passing through the perforated cars is of the ring. These ears,being located between the bosses b of the link A, provide a swinging connection of shackle-ring F with the other parts of the shockarrester.

To adapt the device for use, the ring or eye 0 is placed over a hook on the lower end of the sheet-block G; or a split ring may be used to connect the ring 0 with an eye on the block, in case thelatter is so made. The shacklering F is removed from connection with the other parts of the sh ock arrester and sprung over the guard-iron or traveler H, which is affixed to extend across the stern of the vessel, and by its position afford a hitching-bar for the sheet of the mainsail. After the shackle -ring F is made to encircle the traveler H its ears k and the bosses b of the open link A are hinged together by the shackle-bolt c.

In Fig. 4 the link B, which is shown closed in Figs. 2 and 3, is given the form of an open link, similar to the link A, these two links being adapted to receive and retain between them the cushion or spring E in the same manner as has been previously described.

The rounded bosses h of the upper open link, B, are perforated for the reception of the shackle bolt 2', which is introduced through these ears, and also through the eye 7:, which is affixed to the lower end of the block G, and is embraced between the inner faces of the bosses to the traveler-iron II,and when a tack is made the sudden shock that usually results from contact of the ring of the sheet-block I with the shoulder of the traveler will be absorbed by the elastic cushion E of the shock arrester, which is interposed between the block I and the traveler H. I l

I do not restrict myself to the use of a gum cushion, as it is evident that aspiral spring of proper strengthmay be utilized for the purpose. Neither do I limit the use of this deviceto its combination with the sheet ofa mainsail, as it is obvious that it may be otherwise employed where it is desirable to neutralize the shock or strain on other parts of the rigging ot' a vessel, as it is equally applicable to the boom-traveler and other portions of the rigging where sudden strain is thrown upon the ropes or their connections to masts or yards of a sailing-vessel.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In ashock arrester for vessels, the combination,with two interlocking links, each having approximately parallel integral sides and curved at one end, and the grooved seatblocks restingon the curved ends of the links, of aspring interposed between the blocks, and a shacklering mounted on a bolt removably secured to the open end of one of said links, substantially as set forth.

2. In a shock-arrester for vessels, the combination, with the links, each made in a single piece and curved at one end, one of said links being open at one end and closed at the other, and the other link closed at both ends and provided at its outer end with an eye,and seat-blocks secured to the links, of a spring in terposed between the blocks, and a shacklering mounted on a bolt removably secured to the open link, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK WVHEELER.

\Vitnesses:

LUCAS O. CLARK, O. S. PERKINS. 

